Phi Beta Sigma Ratchets Up Anti-Hazing Commitment

PRNewswire |
8/25/2014, 11:34 a.m.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (PBS) is set to bolster its third annual National Anti-Hazing Campaign with three weeks of workshops, meetings and fraternally activities.

Slated to begin Monday, the well-received anti-hazing campaign will end on Saturday, Sept. 13. This year the campaign has extended to three weeks and involve the collaboration of both PBS' alumni and collegiate members working together to eradicate hazing from its Membership Intake Process. During this week, all collegiate and alumni chapters are instructed to host an Anti-Hazing prevention workshop for their members. Three-thousand members are expected to participate in this year's campaign.

PBS celebrated its centennial on Jan. 9. It is a proud legacy that PBS founders envisioned 100 years ago at Howard University, where the community services organization was founded. PBS has instituted a comprehensive program to engage its brotherhood in non-hazing or pledging behaviors. PBS' leadership is determined to eradicate the plague of hazing which has affected several community service organizations in recent years.

"Phi Beta Sigma is continuing to blaze a path to eliminating the scourge of hazing in our organization. We will continue to be leaders in this campaign to safeguard our repetition with the best conduct advocated by our members. We have produced anti-hazing sensitivity training materials for our chapters and for other organizations that are committed to ending the culture of hazing," said Jonathan A. Mason Sr., International President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. "In continuing our anti-hazing campaign, we are further demonstrating our commitment to end hazing throughout our organization," Mason added.

In 2012, the Anti-Hazing Campaign was introduced via a partnership with the National Action Network at the National Press Club in D.C. As part of the campaign, supporting documents were developed inclusive of a video, a town hall meeting was held on the subject, workshops were facilitated and chapters were encouraged to participate in the National Anti-Hazing Awareness Day held Sept. 6, 2012. These activities educated and empowered PBS Brotherhood to serve as agents of change in the battle against hazing.

"Over the last three years, we have committed to assist our members in executing the Anti-Hazing Campaign within their chapters, we have placed all the resources that are needed on the Fraternity's website," said Michael Cristal, international first vice president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and chairman of the anti-hazing campaign. "We are excited that our alumni and collegiate chapters will be working together to realize 100 percent participation from our members."